Recruiting Data

I spent a few hours Monday compiling data on four and five stars from the rankings on rivals.com in two different forms.

First, I looked at the number of four and five stars from nine southern states over the past four years and next year. Second, I looked at five stars, top 100, top 250 and four stars for the four playoff teams (Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma) and I including data from South Carolina since I have many Gamecock listeners on my radio show.

The first data revealed some very interesting results. First is the amazing success Clemson has had despite the state of South Carolina being down in terms of talent over the last four seasons.

I looked at nine southern states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia).

I included data from the last four classes and the next class (2019). Here is the break down in terms of five star prospects:

Florida 31

Georgia 17

Louisiana 6

Alabama 6

Tennessee 6

Virginia 5

North Carolina 4

Mississippi 2

South Carolina 0

Note:The last five star from South Carolina was Jadeveon Clowney in 2011.

Here is a break down of the number of four stars from each state:

Florida 245

Georgia 153

Lousiana 64

Tennessee 59

North Carolina 58

Alabama 53

Virginia 49

Mississippi 31

South Carolina 19

Here is the total of four and five stars combined:

Florida 276

Georgia 170

Louisiana 70

Tennessee 65

North Carolina 62

Alabama 59

Virginia 54

Mississippi 33

South Carolina 19

The fact that Clemson has been built into one of the nation’s top two or three football programs is amazing considering how bad the state of South Carolina has been. This staff has had to go to bordering states and have even had to expand the reach to places like the Northeast, Kansas, Louisiana and even Hawaii.

When South Carolina had three great years under Steve Spurrier they did it by taking advantage of rare five stars in South Carolina like Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore and Clowney). When that well dried up, the Gamecocks couldn’t expand their recruiting reach. As a result, the Gamecocks are 24-26 the last four years. Clemson’s staff was able to go into other recruiting areas, and as a result, the Tigers are 50-6 in that same time frame.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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